With the start of the intensive sprat fishing season at the piers in Latvia, the Rural Consultation and Education Center (Latvijas Lauku konsultāciju un izglītības centrs - LLKC) and the Makšķerēšanas karte team remind of the necessity to register the catch.
Considering that the catch limits set by the European Union include the catch of recreational fishermen, accurate accounting of herring is now a key factor for justifying current quotas and maintaining free access to this resource in the future. Anyone heading to the piers in Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja, or other places along the Latvian coast to catch sprat (Baltic herring) this spring should keep in mind: this year, after fishing, it is necessary to register the weight of the caught fish. This applies to all fishermen regardless of the volume of their catch. At the same time, one person is allowed to keep no more than 10 kilograms of herring.
The traditional spring sprat fishing attracts a large number of participants, and their total catch constitutes a significant portion of the country's fish resource consumption. According to the new regulations that came into effect in January 2026, every fisherman is required to register the weight of the caught sprat on the digital platform www.makskeresanaskarte.lv within 24 hours after finishing fishing.
The process of registering sprat and anchovy is maximally simplified - the system only requires the weight of the catch to be entered. This can be done from any smartphone immediately after leaving the pier or shore. A responsible approach to this obligation helps scientists analyze the situation on the coast and make informed resource management decisions based on real data rather than assumptions.
Leave a comment